We use cookies to make sure that you get the best experience possible using our website. If you continue using our website without changing your settings, we’ll assume that you’re happy to receive all cookies on the Projects Abroad website. To find out more read our cookie policy.

Projects Abroad starts new Micro-finance Project in Cambodia

Following on from their positive experience at the Projects Abroad Micro-finance Project in Senegal, volunteers Helge and Kina have been instrumental in founding an exciting new micro-finance initiative in conjunction with Khemara, a well-established NGO in Cambodia.

Helge and Kina volunteered in Senegal in November 2012 and were some of the first individuals at the placement. The Senegalese Micro-finance Project involves loans being distributed to young street boys (known as Talibés) who work with Projects Abroad to acquire necessary business acumen, generate business ideas and then start and grow their own businesses to the point where they earn enough profit to pay back the loan. This model has proved extremely successful and Projects Abroad has been instrumental in funding 40 businesses in the last two years.

Following on from this, Helge and Kina have used their experience in Senegal to help establish a similar project in Cambodia, in partnership with Khemara. Khemara is a respected NGO involved in a variety of activities, including running ten childcare centres, assisting families impacted by HIV Aids, providing education for women and enforcing programmes which deal with child protection and justice.

Projects Abroad and Khemara have a long-standing relationship which has benefitted multiple local Cambodian communities. The Micro-finance Project will be a further extension of this positive relationship between the two organisations.

Khemara already has a list of potential beneficiaries in place whose lives could be changed dramatically by the opportunity to build their own sustainable businesses. In order for the project to be a success, however, volunteers must first be recruited to work alongside local staff to teach prospective business owners basic accounting and company development skills.

Helge explained, “We believe that when the local Projects Abroad Micro-finance Coordinator and the first volunteers are ready to go, it will only take a few months to create 10 to 15 businesses. As Khemara has a very close relationship with the potential beneficiaries there may well be 40 projects after the first year!”

If you have some business or management skills and are interested in getting involved we’d love to hear from you.